Examples Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

The Innocence of Mockingbirds

Imagine a society where innocence is fragile and doing harm to something innocent feels wrong. Through the evolution of the symbol of the phrase “to kill a mockingbird,” Harper Lee argues that this phrase represents the progression of killing innocence over time. Initially introduced by Atticus Finch as a moral lesson for his children, it represents the idea of causing harm to something innocent and harmless. However, as the story progresses, the phrase expands to include the broader theme of societal injustice and the destruction of innocence by discrimination and prejudice. Throughout this book, Lee states that the harming of a mockingbird symbolizes the violation of innocence, whether it’s through the perspective

One character that gets tied to mocking birds and the idea of killing them is Tom Robinson. Tom starts with the expression "to kill a mockingbird”. He is a black man in the town of Maycomb who faces court proceedings after being charged with raping a white woman. He is obviously granted guilty solely due to his race, as Atticus mentions "The jury couldn’t possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson's word over the Ewells” (117). Similarly to a mockingbird, Tom is innocent and a cause of no harm to society. However, Tom is shot shortly after the trial due to discrimination reasons and becomes the talk of Maycomb. In the local papers, Mr. Underwood, in his editorial, compares Tom to a songbird, saying how it was like “the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children” (275). He makes this comparison because he truly believes that Tom was a helpless and innocent man who did not at all deserve to be killed, such as by killing a

After Boo kills Bob Ewell, Heck Tate decides not to prosecute Boo and just leaves him alone. When Atticus asks Scout if she understands the sheriff’s decision, Scout says that if Boo were to be dragged to court, “it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird” (318). Throughout the whole book, Boo is portrayed as a loner who is misunderstood and unfairly judged by the townspeople of Maycomb. Despite his seclusion from society, Boo performs acts of kindness, such as leaving gifts for Scout and Jem, like chewing gum and a watch, and ultimately saving them from harm when they get attacked by Bob Ewell. Just as a mockingbird does no harm and only brings joy through its song, Boo's actions are motivated by compassion and a desire to bring good to Jem and Scout. After Heck State comes to the realization that Boo took it upon himself to save the children from Bob’s attack, he expresses to Atticus that "taking the one man who's done you and this town a great service an' draggin' him with his shy ways into the limelight—to me, that's a sin" (276). By making the option not to get Boo in trouble, he indicates the idea that holding Boo accountable would be like destroying something innocent and pure. This ultimately reflects the broader theme in the book: that the phrase “to